SCIENTISTS are investigating whether a clay-based ‘vaccine’ for plants could safeguard the nation’s $5.5 billion-combined cotton and vegetable industries against pest infestation and crippling crop losses.

The project involves trials of the non-toxic, biodegradable product BioClay on farms in Qld and other locations across the country.

Hort Innovation research and development general manager, David Moore, said the new work followed more than four years of research into developing the product, and the trials presented an exciting step toward the commercialisation of BioClay.

“The Australian vegetable industry is among Australia’s largest horticultural industries with an estimated annual gross production value of $3.7b, and exports to Asia and the Middle East valued at over $270 million,” he said.

“Globally, an estimated 40 per cent of food grown is lost to crop pests and pathogens.

“Pest and disease management is increasingly challenging for both the fruit and vegetable and cotton industries, who are facing climate change, pesticide resistance and chemical use limitations.

SMART SPRAY: BioClay is a non-toxic crop spray.

“The high-tech BioClay spray responds to these challenges by priming the plant’s own defences, helping the plant to naturally attack specific crop pests and pathogens.”

“BioClay is the first step towards revolutionising how we manage pest control organically for increased sustainability and resilience of crops and industry at large. This is an exciting project that has the potential to ultimately reshape industry approaches to pesticides.”